The Realms Thereunder by Ross Lawhead

A homeless man is stalked by a pale, wraithlike creature with a mouthful of needle-sharp teeth. Maimed animals and a host of suicides cluster around a mountain in Scotland. And deep beneath the cobbled streets of Oxford, a malicious hoard besieges a hidden city.

Freya Reynolds is a university student with a touch of OCD and an obsession with myth and folklore. Daniel Tully is living rough on the streets of Oxford, waging a secret war against an enemy only he can identify. Years ago, they found themselves in a world few know is real. They have since gone their separate ways and tried to put that adventure behind them.

But the mythical word is now bleeding into our reality -- a dark spiritual evil that is manifesting itself in forgotten corners of the British Isles. Alex Simpson is a Scottish police officer who specializes in hunting mythical creatures. Together, they must confront the past, the present, and points beyond to defeat the ultimate threat to humanity.

~The Ancient Earth Trilogy, Book 1 - The Realms Thereunder

Ross Lawhead has created a wonderful beginning to his trilogy. The main characters are likeable even with their weaknesses, and it will be interesting to see how Mr. Lawhead will further develop his characters in the next book.

The storyline keeps you turning the pages, and as the past and the present are interwoven, the groundwork for a fantastic adventure is laid. I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Lawhead's use of real and historical context, making the imaginary become a little more real-to-life, which I think adds to the enjoyment of this read. 

Book 1 was good and I am looking forward to Book 2. Pick up The Realms Thereunder by Ross Lawhead and give it a read! You can buy this book at your local bookstore or online at www.chapters.ca or www.amazon.com

Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson.

Appreciate Each Moment

Never let wonders in life pass you by without taking time to appreciate them

...No matter how small.

It is the little pleasures in life that God has blessed us with during the mundane. Look around and purposefully notice what is around you and take time to wonder/appreciate/marvel at it...and breathe deep the hidden beauty of our world.

God Hears

Never - EVER - underestimate the power of prayer! I am constantly amazed at how God works, and though I shouldn't be surprised when he answers prayer, I still usually stand in awe of His workings regardless. It is arrogant of a person to think that God does not or cannot hear our prayers...He does. Every prayer spoken out loud or silently...He hears. He knows our hearts and minds better than we do. He knows our needs and desires, and He knows what is best for us and (...this is where faith comes in) it may NOT be what we think is best.

As the Bible says,

James 1:5~If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

James 1:6~But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind
1 John 5:14~This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us
 
1 John 5:15~And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.


John 15:7~If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

John 15:16~You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

Don't be fooled...You do not need to be a pious theologian to hold out your heart to God.

 
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. ~Eph.3:20-21 

Look Out for One Another

The Father watches over everyone of us. He asks us to look out for one another also. The human heart, unfortunately, is a fickle thing...wanting to do right, wanting to do wrong. Sometimes we are so protective towards others, and yet, other times we can't strike at one another quick enough...our pride is at stake. And so it goes...But the damage done when our heart strikes out against another and is extensive, requiring healing that can only be tended to by the Master Physician. Oftentimes, we cannot see the damage...symptoms of it perhaps, but only if we are paying attention...if we care. If we could actually see the damage, I imagine the majority of us would cringe in utter disgust - kind of how when we see a body that has been maimed, we draw back.

And the word of the LORD came again to Zechariah: “This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’

~Zechariah 7:8-10